Noah frowned. “Emma, we’re dating now. I don’t expect you to pay me back. And I’d like to pay for your—”
“Noah,” I said firmly, not backing down. “I need to pay for it. Please.”
My stomach was entirely too pleased about the way he saidwe’re dating now.
We’re. Dating. Now.
I didn’t recall an official conversation going down, but I was ready to roll with it.
Obviously, my old gymnastics teacher didn’t know what she was talking about when she claimed I wasn’t flexible.
His lips thinned, and I prepared myself for a staredown.
“Can I at least pay for yours, then?” Noah asked.
I snorted a laugh and shook my head. “That completely defeats the purpose! My order goes for four times the price of yours.”
“I’d like to pay for it,” Noah said, and a tinge of command inched into his tone that did seriously weird things to me. “My job pays well.”
“That doesn’t matter, because I don’t feel comfortable with you paying right now. You’ve already paid when we’ve gone out. Let me handle the coffee until I can reimburse you for the pen, and then we can renegotiate, okay? If… you know, if we’re still dating then. Not trying to be presumptuous or anything.”
Noah’s determined expression morphed into one of amusement as I tried to backtrack. He eyed the coffee cart again before his gaze flickered over my own determined face.
“Presume away,” he said, and his lips twitched. “All right, I’ll reserve the table… this time.”
“Thanks.” I smiled before reaching out to touch the soft material covering his forearm. He tensed a little, but it was progress since the time he’d jerked away and I’d face-planted into the ground. “Sorry, I swear I’m not going all super-feminist on you. I just need to do this.”
Noah managed a small smile back, followed by a soft sigh as the hard lines of his jaw eased. “I understand. I even respect it, but that doesn’t stop me from disliking it.”
“It just rubs all those Southern manners deeply ingrained in you the wrong way, doesn’t it?” I teased with a smile as I let go of his arm.
Noah’s smile widened, and he shook his head. “You have no idea.”
I tried and failed to fight down another smile before shooing him away. “Hurry, before someone takes the table. I’ll be right over.”
Noah’s eyebrow rose effortlessly. “Someone’s feeling bossy today.”
“Less talking, more walking.” I clapped my hands together twice for emphasis before making a beeline for the coffee cart.
“Hey, Emma,” Scott said as I stepped up to the counter. He threw away a handful of paper towels and offered a smile.
“Morning.” I smiled back before pulling out my trusty wad of dollar bills and freeing several from the bunch. “The usual for today with two scoops, plus a regular black coffee, please.”
“I thought a regular blackwaspart of your usual order now?” Scott’s smile widened, and he plucked a cup off the stack to fill.
“Maybe.” I smiled like a boy-band-obsessed schoolgirl, beyond pleased that he’d noticed. I glanced over my shoulder—making sure Noah was well and distracted at the patio table—before leaning closer to the cart and lowering my voice. “He’s cute, right?”
Scott handed me Noah’s cup before starting on my masterpiece, and I didn’t miss the flat look he sent my way. “Don’t even start that. I’ll make as many coffees as you want, but checking dudes out for you isn’t on the menu.”
I huffed, having to stop my mouth when it reflexively went to drink the black coffee. “Whatever. He’s cute. How’s your day going?”
“Can’t complain,” Scott said as he dropped a couple scoops of sugar in my drink. He covered the mixture with a splash of whipped cream before topping it off with an extra drizzle of caramel. My mouth watered. “I have classes this afternoon and a test I’m not ready for, but it’s been a slow morning.”
I frowned as I gave his cart a considering look. “Slow enough for them to think we don’t need a coffee cart on the quad anymore?”
Scott’s brow rose in amusement, and he snapped a lid on before trading the caramel macchiato for my money.
“Don’t worry. My cart is staying right where it is,” he said as he rang up the order. “And who isthem?”
